Category Archives: Alex Yemenidjian

More Trop turmoil; Adelson’s new enforcer; Hart vindicated

Posted on July 24, 2013 by David McKee

That Alex Yemenidjian! He just can’t keep the Tropicana Las Vegas out of the headlines — and not in a good way. It’s kicking The One Group out, taking over Bagatelle Beach Club and converting into a by-invitation-only venue for … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Entertainment, IGT, International, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off

Vegas: Bullishness is back; Getting high at the Trop

Posted on June 18, 2013 by David McKee

While we’re still a few years from seeing Resorts World Las Vegas come to fruition, in the meantime, Genting Group would like to tease our interest. It’s asking Clark County for permission to build a couple of “preview centers” on … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Colorado, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Genting, Harrah's, International, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tourism | 1 Comment

Dark days at the Plaza

Posted on December 18, 2012 by David McKee

Last week’s abrupt cessation of three shows at the Plaza sent gloom and presages of doom through the theatrical community over the weekend. Lichtenstein-based Tamares Group was rumored to be pulling the plug on Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Bite … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Tamares Group | Comments Off

D, Trop try something different; Cannibalization comes to Ohio

Posted on November 12, 2012 by David McKee

Nothing says ‘November in Las Vegas‘ quite like a beach club. Yes, after unending delays, Nov. 16 is the date certain for the opening of Bagatelle Beach & Supper Club. If Bagatelle does, as promised, deliver “afternoons that transport guests … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Dan Gilbert, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, MTR Gaming, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, The Strip | Comments Off

High-profile Vegas divorce

Posted on October 26, 2012 by David McKee

This just in … peripatetic chef Carla Pellegrino has just released a statement in which “announces her mutual separation from Tropicana Las Vegas,” after 19 months overseeing its Italian restaurant, Bacio. The Brazilian chef, also late of Rao’s at Caesars … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Cantor Gaming, Current, Dining, Internet gambling, M Resort, Penn National, The Strip, TV, Wayne F. Newton | Comments Off

Shadow-puppetry at the Sahara; TropiHilton of LV; Melco goes southerly

Posted on October 26, 2012 by David McKee

“Lightweight” might be a apt term to describe the braintrust forming around the SLS/Sahara project. So would “miscast.” Reporting to casino novice and owner Sam Nazarian, its president will be J.P. Morgan investment banker Sam Bakhshandehpour. His main qualification for … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Colony Capital, Cosmopolitan, Current, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, International, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Sahara, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off

Splitsville: Harrah’s and ‘Legends’; Wanna buy used Hooters?

Posted on October 19, 2012 by David McKee

If you want to see Legends in Concert at Harrah’s Las Vegas, better get a move on: The tribute act and Harrah’s LV “have mutually agreed” to go their separate ways on Dec. 30. This doesn’t mean that Caesars Entertainment … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Current, Downtown, Entertainment, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Hooters, Planet Hollywood, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Tamares Group, The Strip | 5 Comments

Hail, Bill’s!; Trump slump; Back in the fold

Posted on October 10, 2012 by David McKee

In a typically ludicrous Gary Loveman brainstorm, Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon is to become — wait for it — Caesars Drai’s. (Yeah, ‘WTF?’ and all that.) Although you’d have to be either masochistic or insane to loan money to … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Current, Detroit, Donald Trump, Florida, Harrah's, Illinois, International, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off

From the mailbag; Now for a word from our sponsor …

Posted on October 8, 2012 by David McKee

Update: Full sets of links are now available for the DIY version of my USA Today ‘best of Downtown’ and best of the Las Vegas Strip guides, below. Thank you for your patience. A reader in Arizona has run the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Harrah's, Technology, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

Would you buy a used Monorail from these guys?

Posted on September 26, 2012 by David McKee

Let the record show that the American Gaming Association‘s daily SmartBrief is an invaluable one-stop shop for casino-related news stories, especially now that several of the leading Las Vegas-centric blogs have taken a dirt nap. However, if you can’t find … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Economy, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 5 Comments

“Mob Attraction” inundated

Posted on September 11, 2012 by David McKee

… and not with customers unfortunately. Las Vegas is currently experiencing torrential downpours and flash flooding — including on the Strip. This suddenly closed the Tropicana Las Vegas‘ “Mob Attraction,” thanks to a wee bit of a design flaw. According … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Entertainment, Environment, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, history, Technology, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, Warner Gaming | 2 Comments

Get to the polls!

Posted on August 7, 2012 by David McKee

… as in the Las Vegas Advisor weekly poll. Tomorrow’s promises to be a real doozy. The question is, What was the worst show in recent Strip and Downtown history? The dog kennel hasn’t been completely filled but I can … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Cirque du Soleil, Colony Capital, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Riviera, Sahara, Sports, The Strip, TV, Wayne F. Newton | 6 Comments

Must we see this?

Posted on July 25, 2012 by David McKee

Sorry, PR folks, but how many decades has it been since a Carrot Top sighting was news? In other breaking events, the sun rose this morning. And, if my eyes don’t deceive me, there’s been some serious attrition in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Entertainment, The Strip | 3 Comments

Shocking preliminary finding

Posted on June 21, 2012 by David McKee

Although I’m still swotting on USA Today copy, the finish line is within sight and the Las Vegas Strip property with the most name-checks to date is — surprise of surprises — Paris-Las Vegas, singled out in multiple categories. Who’da … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Donald Trump, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | 5 Comments

Tropicana Toronto? CityCentre? Horseshoe Etobicoke?

Posted on May 16, 2012 by David McKee

There’s a dark horse in the race for a Toronto megaresort … very dark. It’s Onex Corp., known to you and me as the owner of the Tropicana Las Vegas. Onex subsidiary Casino ABS owns four of the largest casinos … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Kansas, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off

Casino codependency, Chris Christie’s cowardice & other Case Bets

Posted on May 15, 2012 by David McKee

It’s too bad Steve Friess isn’t here to write this next story, because it’s right up his alley. What do you do if your big-name headliner badmouths your casino and CEO on opening night? You re-hire him, what else? Like … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, LVCVA, Marketing, New York, Ohio, Politics, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, Taxes, The Strip, TV | 2 Comments

People’s Republic of Steve; Sahara Sam’s big score

Posted on May 3, 2012 by David McKee

Although I was only joking when I suggested that Steve Wynn‘s long-sought Cotai Strip land grant would come in on May Day, some Communist Party bureaucrat wasn’t. After many false alarms, the 51 acres were finally ‘gazetted’ on May 1. … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Economy, Encore, Fontainebleau, Harry Reid, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

U.S.S. Adelson lost at sea

Posted on May 2, 2012 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson‘s presidential campaign officially sank today. It was preceded to Davey Jones’ Locker by $21.5 million in Adelson family money (or $10.75 million per primary victory). It’s been a brief voyage but one revelatory of Sheldon’s inner workings. For … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Election, Entertainment, Florida, Internet gambling, Macau, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, TV | 5 Comments

“Relic Hunter” Live?

Posted on April 23, 2012 by David McKee

Now that Dancing with the Stars‘ satellite show is off and hoofing at the Tropicana Las Vegas, PR people keep proffering interviews with guest star Tia Carrere. Yes, the Relic Hunter herself. This is — or might be — all … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Entertainment, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 14, 2012 by David McKee

“I was brought up Catholic; this feels wrong.” — Dancing with the Stars host Tom Bergeron, when brought onstage and instructed to shake his booty by Lacey Schwimmer during last night’s preview of the DWTS satellite show at the Tropicana … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Entertainment, The Strip, Tourism, TV | Comments Off